Safety device for firearms



June 1964 B. w. INGALLS SAFETY DEVICE FoR FIREARMS Filed July 19, 1962 IN VENTOR 52/10 050 #4 f/VGAZAS ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent Ofitice 3,137,957 Patented June 23, 1964 3,137,957 SAFETY DEVICE FOR FKREARMS Bradford W. Ingalls, Baton Rouge, La., assignor to Frank B. Williams, Metairie, La. Filed July 19, 1962, Ser. No. 211,062 3 Claims. (Cl. 42l) This invention relates to a safety device for firearms, and has as its primary object the provision of a device which may be readily adapted to all types of firearms; rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, automatics, or the like, the device being adapted to be inserted into the barrel through the chamber thus positively preventing anyone from loading the gun either by single shells or cartridges or working any of the various mechanisms which would bring a shell from the magazine to the chamber in the case of automatic weapons.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is provided with a positive locking means extending outwardly from the muzzle of the gun, so as to preclude unauthorized removal thereof, and consequent loading or firing of the firearm by unauthorized individuals.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is constituted by a flexible tube or cable, which may be readily rolled, so as to fit into the pocket and occupy a minimum of space.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is preferably made of steel or the like, and which is plastic coated to prevent damage to the interior of the gun barrel.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this character which may be readily and expeditiously applied to any type of firearm for which it is designed, and so arranged as to completely close the barrel from muzzle to breech, positively precluding unauthorized or accidental loading of the weapon.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of contruction, all as will be more fully shown hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a firearm, illustratively a rifle, showing the device of the instant invention in position in the barrel thereof.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one form of device embodying the instant invention shown as removed from the gun barrel and rolled for storage or the like, and disclosing a modified form of lock.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a still further modification of the invention disclosing its adaptability to a brush to be employed in cleaning the barrel of the weapon.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated at a firearm, illustratively a rifle, including a stock 11, a barrel 12 having a cartridge receiving chamber 13, and a muzzle 14. Barrel 12 is secured to the breech mechanism including the firing chamber 13 by screw threads as disclosed in FIGURE 2, at 15, or in any other desired conventional manner.

The device of the instant invention is generally indicated at 17, and comprises an elongated member which is preferably comprised of flexible steel cable 16, with a protective coating of plastic 18, which will preclude injury to the interior of the gun barrel. On one end of the device there is provided a socket or sleeve 19 which is suitably secured as by crimping 20, welding, or other desired securing media to the end of the elongated member 16. Sleeve 19 is provided with an enlarged head 21, which is so dimensioned as to fit snugly within the cartridge head recess 22 of the particular weapon for which the device is designed.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the opposite end of the elongated flexible member 16 is provided with a steel end portion 23 which projects beyond the muzzle of the gun, and which is apertured as at 24 to receive the hasp 25 of a padlock 26 of any desired conventional type.

A plastic or rubber washer 27 is interposed between the gun barrel and the lock, which precludes damage to the muzzle of the gun by the lock or its hasp, and which also serves to preclude, to a large extent the entry of dust into the gun barrel.

The sleeve 23 is secured to the end of elongated flexible member 16 in any desired manner as by crimping, as indicated at 28 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 discloses a modified form of construction wherein the elongated member 16 is identical in construction to that of the previously disclosed modification, including the sleeve 19 and its head 21. However, in this case the opposite end of member 16 is provided with a sleeve 30 which is crimped to the end of member 16 as at 31, or which may be welded thereto, the sleeve extending into a hardened steel member 32 incorporating a plurality of locking ridges 33. In this form of the device a tubular lock barrel 34 having tumbler locks therein actuated by combination dials 35 is slipped over the end portion 32, with the tumbler snapping into place in the recesses 33 until released by proper actuation of the combination lock.

A further modified form of construction is disclosed in FIGURE 5, wherein the hardened steel end 32a is provided with a sleeve 30a which is crimped as at 31a to the flexible member 16a with its plastic coating 18a. This modification is shown as adapted for the use of a tubular combination lock such as 34, but is provided at its extreme outer end with an extension 40 which is provided with an internally threaded bore 41 which receives the threaded end section 42 of a barrel brush 43. Obviously, this modification can also be adapted for the use of a padlock such as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The member 16 is inserted from the breech end of the gun through the chamber until the head 21 seats in the cartridge receiving recess 22, and the extending member 32; or 23 protrudes beyond the muzzle. The lock 26 or 34 is then applied, a washer 27 being first interposed over the end of the steel member, and it then becomes impossible to either load or fire the gun until the lock is released by an authorized person. The case of the modification of FIGURE 5 the brush 43 may be attached to the end 46 thereof after removal of the associated tubular lock, and withdrawal of the flexible member through the barrel will serve to cleanse the same at the same time that the locking device is removed. Of course, the brush 43 may merely be withdrawn through the longitudinal bore in the tubular lock 34 in order to remove the latter. Also, if a padlock is utilized in combination with the brush 43, the same cleansing function will result on withdrawal of the flexible member through the barrel.

While the device of the instant invention has herein been described in connection with a flexible elongated member, preferably of braided steel cable, plastic coated, it isto be understood that under certain circumstances a rigid rod may be substituted for the flexible member. It is also to be understood that the device may be employed with any desired type of Weapon or firearm, and that the length of the elongated memberv 16, as Well as the size of the head 21, is governed by the particular firearm With which the device is adapted to be used. 7

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved safety device for firearms which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a safety device for firearms having a barrel with a breech end, including a cartridge head recess, the com- 2 bination of an elongated flexible member having two ends and being insertable into said breech end and through said barrel, a plastic coating covering said flexible memher to protect the interior of said barrel, a head on one of said ends of said flexible member adapted to seat in the cartridge head recess, a hardened steel tip on the other of said ends of said flexible member, lock means engageable with said tip for retaining said flexible member in said barrel, an internally threaded recess in said tip, and a barrel brush having an externally threaded end receiva ble in said recess, whereby on withdrawal of said flexible member through said barrel from said breech end after removal of said lockrmeans, said brush will cleanse the interior of said barrel.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tip is apertured and said lock means comprises a padlock having its hasp inserted through said aperture. 7

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tip is provided with. a series of annular ratchet grooves and said lock means comprises a tubular combination lock.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,327,334 Parker Aug. 17, 1943 2,763,081 Huckabee Sept. 18, 1956 3,022,598 Wikstrom Feb. 27, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,837 Norway Dec. 2, 1912 

1. IN A SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS HAVING A BARREL WITH A BREECH END, INCLUDING A CARTRIDGE HEAD RECESS, THE COMBINATION OF AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE MEMBER HAVING TWO ENDS AND BEING INSERTABLE INTO SAID BREECH END AND THROUGH SAID BARREL, A PLASTIC COATING COVERING SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER TO PROTECT THE INTERIOR OF SAID BARREL, A HEAD ON ONE OF SAID ENDS OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER ADAPTED TO SEAT IN THE CARTRIDGE HEAD RECESS, A HARDENED STEEL TIP ON THE OTHER OF SAID ENDS OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER, LOCK MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID TIP FOR RETAINING SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER IN SAID BARREL, AN INTERNALLY THREADED RECESS IN SAID TIP, AND A BARREL BRUSH HAVING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED END RECEIVABLE IN SAID RECESS, WHEREBY ON WITHDRAWAL OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER THROUGH SAID BARREL FROM SAID BREECH END AFTER REMOVAL OF SAID LOCK MEANS, SAID BRUSH WILL CLEANSE THE INTERIOR OF SAID BARREL. 